Weddings delayed across Cork due to 'marriage-of-convenience' applications review

The marriage plans of hundreds of couples across Cork and Kerry are being delayed for more than a year due to a review of ‘marriage of convenience’ applications.

The review involves over 200 applications for marriage-of-convenience interviews in the two counties and comes as the number of such applications nationally continues to rise.

These interviews are required where at least one partner is from outside the EU, to ensure the marriage is not to secure immigration status.

Without an interview, such couples cannot obtain a marriage licence.

The wedding of one Cork woman and her foreign partner, which was meant to take place in October, is on hold because the couple were told they would not be able to secure an appointment for a marriage of convenience interview in Cork for 18 months.

According to the HSE South, marriage of convenience interviews are required after a notice of marriage appointment and are carried out by civil registrars under agreed national procedures.

Increase

The HSE said there has been an increase in such cases in Cork and Kerry and that the civil registration is reviewing 200 open files to prioritise current cases and close those no longer required.

A spokeswoman said: “While this review is under way, new notice appointments requiring [a marriage-of-convenience] interview are paused. The review is expected to finish in February, after which bookings will reopen based on an updated waiting list, with plans to streamline the process in to a single, extended appointment.”

The spokeswoman said that prior to the pause, couples were being advised of a six to nine-month wait, with most interviews completed within six months.

She said: “Longer delays occur only where foreign divorce documentation requires clearance. We continue to schedule interviews in line with staffing and facilities and are working with local management to improve waiting times.”

There are difficulties in other areas of the country, with one case raised with the office of Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger. A woman has been resident in Ireland for 10 years, but has been told she will have to wait over a year for a marriage of convenience interview in Dublin.

Cork North Central Fine Gael TD Colm Burke said the Cork-based couple had booked a venue for their October wedding and began the process in January, in the belief it would take between three and six months.

Waiting list

However, they have been told their application cannot be taken by the Cork civil registration office and that the waiting list for them could be 18 months in Cork.

The couple has been offered one marriage-notification appointment in Kilkenny for May, and has been told over the phone that they may be able to get a marriage of convenience interview appointment for September at the same office — a month before their planned wedding.

There is no guarantee they will be able to secure a marriage licence on time.

The couple is considering the possibility of being married abroad, because of the delay.

Mr Burke said the HSE needs to examine the deployment of additional staff to deal with the issues.